About

Located at Pukekura Park in the heart of New Plymouth, the TSB Festival of Lights is a six-week, free event made up of beautiful light features and epic events including music and daytime activities for kids and seniors.

NPDC loves bringing you this ultimate summer festival!

PLAN YOUR VISIT

What to expect

During the Festival, lights are on from 8.30pm. At 10.45pm a siren will sound at the band rotunda to notify you to vacate the park before the lights are switched off at 11pm.

Getting to the festival

Pukekura Park's main entrance is 10 Fillis Street, which is just a 10-minute walk from New Plymouth’s CBD.

Festival Hub

During the Festival, the Festival Hub is the place to go for all festival information, maps and more. Enter via Pukekura Park’s main gates and you'll find it.

Dog Control

A temporary dog ban is in place throughout Pukekura Park from 7pm to midnight for the duration of the festival.

Parking

During the festival, the Bellringer Pavilion car park is pedestrian access only. Parking is available at TSB Stadium carpark, located off Rogan Street, at the Rogan and Victoria Street car parks and surrounding streets. Accessible/limited mobility car parking is located along Fillis Street and at TSB Stadium.

Entertainment Stages

Please bring low chairs and picnic blankets to sit on while watching performances. If you do need a high-backed chair or have pushchairs or wheelchairs, keep these to the sides and back of the lawns so you don’t obstruct the view of others.

Alcohol Control

During the entertainment programme, alcohol may be consumed in a responsible manner on the stage lawn where an act is performing. This applies until 10pm on the Hatchery Lawn and Fred Parker Lawn. Alcohol is available to be purchased from the Festival Hub but must be consumed within the designated Hub area. A park-wide alcohol ban is in place for all other areas of Pukekura Park between 7pm and 7am. Failure to comply may result in seizure of alcohol and/or arrest and prosecution.

Smokefree

Please respect other festival visitors and New Plymouth District Council’s smokefree parks, playgrounds and sportsgrounds policy by refraining from smoking and vaping within Pukekura Park.

Recycling

Waste Management is helping to keep the festival tidy. Look for the labels on wheelie bins and make sure you put your rubbish into the appropriate bin. If a recycling bin gets tainted with non-recyclable rubbish it all goes to the landfill, so please work with us to help keep our festival and park clean and green.

Bike Control

There is no cycling allowed in Pukekura Park, day or night. Please leave your bike at home or use the bike racks at the Bellringer Pavilion or the Brooklands Zoo car park.

Get Involved

Volunteer at the festival

Our volunteers are the face of the festival and provide fun and friendly information points and guidance to people within the park over the TSB Festival of Lights season.

Why volunteer at the festival?

Give something back to your community
Enjoy being out and about, making the most of our summer evenings
Share the experience of volunteering with a friend or family by volunteering together! Or meet new people and make friends
Get an exclusive sneak peek of the festival before it officially starts
Receive an official t-shirt and an invite to an exclusive post-festival volunteers event

If you're interested in volunteering, we'd love to hear from you!

Apply now

Free Regional Buses

Catch a ride to the festival for free!

Buses depart from:

Hawera/Eltham/Stratford/Inglewood
Urenui/Waitara/Bell Block
Opunake/Okato/Ōākura

Phone NPDC 06-759 6060 to register or email enquries@npdc.govt.nz. Departure details will be confirmed at the time of booking.

Bookings close at midday, one day prior to the event. You must be 14 years or over to use this bus service unless accompanied by an adult.

Accessibility and Inclusion

Getting Around the Park

The light trail has a steep gradient in parts which could prove difficult to navigate for those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility.

Accessible/Limited Mobility Parking

Accessible/limited mobility car parking is located along Fillis Street and TSB Stadium. A festival map will be published closer to the festival and will have details on parking locations.

Accessible Transport from TSB Stadium

Transport will be available for you to get to and from the mobility parking area at TSB Stadium to the Fred Parker Lawn. If the transport isn't there when you arrive, it won't be far away. No booking required.

Limited Mobility Buggy Tours

Limited Mobility Buggy Tours are available during the festival. Bookings are essential. Further information will be available closer to the festival.

Wheelchairs

The festival has two wheelchairs available for hire to assist with getting around the park. Bookings are essential. Further information will be available closer to the festival.

Mobility Scooters

The Taranaki Disability Information Centre has five mobility scooters available for free hire during the festival. Further information will be available closer to the festival.

FAQs

Parking

Where can I park?
During the festival, parking is available at TSB Stadium carpark, located off Rogan Street, at the Rogan and Victoria Street car parks and surrounding streets. Accessible/limited mobility car parking is located along Fillis Street and at TSB Stadium. Between 5pm and 7am the following day, main gate access to the Bellringer Pavilion car park is restricted to pedestrian access only.

Times and Cancellations

What time do the lights come on?
The lights will be on every night from 8.30pm until 11pm during the festival. This includes public holidays.

Do the lights ever get cancelled in wet weather?
No, the lights run as scheduled throughout the festival.

Do events get cancelled in wet weather?
Yes, please check the specific event page and our Facebook page for updates. We make announcements on the day of the event.

Lost Children and Property

What happens if I lose my children?
Although we take every safety precaution in the organisation of events, as a parent or caregiver, you are responsible for supervising your children. We recommend you write your cell phone number on their arm and create an agreed meeting point within your group in case someone does get lost.

What do I do with lost and found items?
If you have lost an item at the park, please get in touch with the NPDC contact centre. 06 759 6060 or enquiries@npdc.govt.nz. If you find something, please take it to the Festival Hub between 8pm - 10.30pm or hand it in to security.

Dogs

Can I bring my dog?
No, for the comfort of all users, please leave your pets at home. There is a dog ban from 7.00pm - midnight during the festival.

Food and Alcohol

Can I bring a picnic and wine?
Yes, you can bring your picnic and wine to enjoy on the Hatchery Lawn and the Fred Parker Lawn during the performances. Alcohol will be available to be purchased from the Festival Hub but must be consumed within the designated Hub area.

Please note that a park-wide alcohol ban is in place for all other areas of Pukekura Park between 7pm and 7am.

Are there places to buy food?
Yes, Teahouse on the Lake is open during the festival and on selected dates Light Bites food truck nights will be on.

Bikes

Can I ride my bike through the park?
No, Pukekura Park is a pedestrian-friendly park which gets very busy during the Festival, so please leave your bikes at home. The riding of bikes is prohibited within Pukekura Park at all times.

History

In 1953 a fountain was installed in Pukekura Park's Fountain Lake, to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, with lights installed on Poet's Bridge and around the Main Lake. In 1955 Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visited New Plymouth and lights were added to the new fountain for them to enjoy. It was the 1970s when music and entertainment became a feature of the annual lights event, and it was 1993 when we were officially named the 'Festival of Lights'. We have been growing ever since then, and now offer 50 days and nights of events and lights!